Málaga 3 - Real Sociedad 0

Málaga: Contreras; Rojas, Bravo (Larrainzar 06'), Roteta, Valcarce; Rufete, Zárate (Edgar 75'), Movilla, Agostinho; Darío Silva (Sandro 68'), Dely Valdés. 4-4-2.
Real Sociedad: Alberto; Fuentes, Corino (Jauregui 80'), Pikabea, Aranzábal; Tayfun, Khokhlov; López Rekarte, Idiakez (Sergio Francisco 57'), De Pedro (Rubén Vega 57'); De Paula. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Málaga: Zárate for De los Santos / Real: De Pedro for Rubén Vega.

Goals:
1-0. 28. Larrainzar. Header inside penalty area from Agostinho's corner.
2-0. 41. Movilla (penalty). After López Rekarte handled in area.
3-0. 69. Agostinho. First time volley from left of area which keeper got a hand to.

Real Sociedad manager Periko Alonso resigned after this match as his team sank even further at the bottom of the first division. Alonso had only been in charge since the end of October when he took over from Javier Clemente, but he has failed to turn the situation around and he leaves the club rudderless a point behind their fellow Basques Osasuna in last place in the table. To make matters worse club president Luis Uranga has already announced that he will be standing down in a couple of months time, although if things improve in the next few weeks he may stand for reelection. At the time of going to press the man chosen for this onerous task is non other than John Toshack, currently unhappy at his current post in Saint Etienne in France, and he may rejoin his old club before the next round of matches on the weekend of 6th/7th January. Alonso's last side showed little change over his previous line up, with the more experienced De Pedro returning to the side. New signing Demetradze has still not joined the squad, and other possible additions were stopped pending the appointment of a new manager.

Málaga were missing the suspended De los Santos, and Zárate came in to his place in midfield. In the sixth minute of the game the only ever-present in the Málaga team, Bravo, had to leave the field with an injury, and Larrainzar came on in his place. It was a providential change, as the new man was to score the opening goal halfway through the half with a powerful header from Agostinho's corner which went in off the far post. Before that it had been all Málaga, with Darío Silva, who had a fifth yellow card cancelled on appeal enabling him to play this match, creating havoc in the Real defence. Alberto deflected a Dely Valdés shot against the crossbar later in the half, and the San Sebastian side's first efforts at goal came five minutes from the interval through Idiakez and then De Paula. Immediately afterwards though Málaga broke free down the right, and López Rekarte instinctively raised his arm as the cross was headed back across goal. Referee Daudén Ibáñez immediately pointed to the penalty spot, and Movilla placed his kick low to the left of Alberto.

Alonso made a double change before the hour was up, bringing on his youngsters Rubén Vega and Sergio Francisco, and things improved slightly before Málaga ended all resistance with their third, a first time volley by Agostinho after Dely headed on Movilla's cross which Alberto could only help into the net. Darío Silva was carried off with a knee injury to be replaced by Sandro, with Edgar coming on near the end. Darío's injury doesn't appear to be serious though, although they will miss Bravo, who could be replaced by Fernando Sanz who has now fully recovered from the ankle injury which has kept him out all season. Málaga end the year in an acceptable tenth place and can take a well earned rest. Not so Real, who are looking everyday more like second division material. The new man whoever he is has got a hard winter ahead of him.